A new report concludes that health impacts can only be generated from the 19% of the population who might take up cycling and who are currently not getting enough exercise to benefit their health. The remaining 81% either are already physically active enough, or say they would never take up cycling.

Although the Cycling Cities and Towns programme ended in 2011, research into its impact is only just beginning. Since most of the economic justification for promoting cycling comes from the associated health benefits of getting sedentary people cycling, the thrust of this new report is that programmes will only be successful if interventions to increase cycling are aimed at the physically inactive.

Nowadays most people know how important it is to encourage active lifestyles rather than heap precious resources on treating disease caused by inactivity. The NHS has a vital role here - not just as a health provider, but as a huge employer.

Arguably, the NHS has the strongest motivation of all to promote physical activity for the sake of public health and public resources. Our briefing on promoting cycling in the health sector provides a check-list for providers on how to become a cycle-friendly employer, and how (and why) to encourage people in their care to take up the activity.